Drawer for typewriters, including elevating typewriter supports



M h 4, 1952 c. H. RISTENPART ET AL 2,538,163

DRAWER FOR TYPEWRITERS, INCLUDING ELEVATING TYPEWRITER SUPPORTS Filed July 13, 1948 2 sHEETs--sHEET 1 INVENTORS CHESTER 1-1. RISTENPART JOSEPH F. DETMAYEF? gl m w HTTOAF/VE Y5 March 4', 1952 c. H. RISTENPART ET AL 2,588,153

DRAWER FOR TYPEWRITERS, INCLUDING Q ELEVATING TYPEWRITER SUPPORTS Filed July 13, 1948 2 SHEETSSHEET 2 FEE INVENTORS CHESTER l-I. RISTENPART JOSEPH F, DETMAYEF? w BY Patented Mar. 4, 1952 DRAWER FOR TYPEWRITERS, INCLUDING ELEVATING TYPEWRITER SUPPORTS Chester H. Ristenpart, Berkeley, and Joseph F. Detmayer, Madrone, Calif.; said Detm'ayer assignor to said Ristenpart Application July 13, 194s, Serial No. 38,506

desks, and more specifically to a desk of the type having a drawer therein that is adapted to support a typewriter therein for movement from a position within the drawer to a position where the typewriter is elevated and ready for use.

Copending application for Patent by Balzi, et

;al., Serial No. 580,874, filed March 3, 1945, now Patent No. 2,455,156, shows the general type of j desk and drawer.

Many attempts have been made in the past to utilize a portion of a desk for concealing a typewriter when the latter was not in use, and for easily withdrawing the typewriter for use when desired. In most instances the typewriter has been supported on a sliding or swinging shelf or combination of both and a separate door-has been employed to close the portion of the desk in which the shelf and typewriter is concealed when not in use. United States Letters Patents to Heyward, Nos. 548,639; 558,388, dated October 29, 1895, and April 14, 1896, and to Walton et al.,- No. 569,259, dated October 13, 1896, are examples of these types.

None of these types have provided for knee room for an operator sitting at the desk, and in no insance of which we are aware except in said copending application has the desk been so constructed that conventional drawer structure may be employed so that the typewriter drawer could .be removed, if desired, and a standard sized drawer substituted, each drawer having a front end for closing the opening through which the drawer is slidable. V

The structure as disclosed in said copending application overcomes the objections in the earlier disclosures but it usually requires a wider desk than is sometimes desirable in order to counterbalance the weight of the typewriter when the [drawer is out. Also, the swinging of the-typewriter support longitudinally of the drawer is not as desirable in some instances as swinging the typewriter support laterally of the drawer length. 5 .-One of the. principal objects of this invention is 'the provision of a drawer in a desk that is adapted to conceal the typewriter when the drawer is closed, and which drawer includes a' typewriter support that is adapted to swing upwardly and laterally relative to the drawerto' a 7 position in which there is roomfor the knees of the user and in which the carriage of the typewriter will clear the top of the desk.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a drawer ina desk that is of conventional size,

'8 Claims. (01. 3112- 27) tuted therefor, and which first mentioned drawer includes a platform therein that is adapted to support a typewriter thereon for movement of the latter from a position entirely within the projected confines of the outline of the front end of the drawer to a position in which the platform is almost at the level of the desk top and is offset laterally relative to the length of the drawer to the side at which a person would normally sit at said desk so that the knees of such person will have room under the plaftorm.

A still further object of the invention is the provision of a drawer for a typewriter that inin the drawer.

eludes an elevating platform therein on which the typewriter is adapted to be carried from a lowered position of the typewriter within the drawer to an elevated position in which the platform is at substantially the level of the top of the drawer'ahd is partially offset laterally relative to the length of said drawer.

Other objects and advantages will appear in the description and in the drawings.

In the drawings: Fig. l is a perspective view of a typewriter desk with the drawer for the typewriter in open position, the typewriter being indicated in dot-dash lines in lowered position with- A portion of the desk is broken away to accommodate the view to the sheet.

Fig. 2 is a view similar to that of Fig. 1 but showing the typewriter platform elevated, the said typewriter being indicated in dot-dash lines.

Fig. 3 is'a plan view of the drawer.

Fig. 4 is a part sectional, part elevational view of the drawer of Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is a cross sectional view taken along line 55 of Fig. 3. a

In detail, the typewriter desk illustrated inth drawings comprises a fiat top I having a hollow pedestal, generally designated 2, below at least one end thereof. This pedestal extends to the top I and is closed except for the front side that is provided with an uppermost opening 3 through which a drawer, generally designated 4, is adapted to slide into said pedestal. v

The inner sides of the opposed side walls of said pedestal, of which the near side wall is in- .dicated at 5, have conventional horizontal drawer slides (not shown) on which the drawer is supported for sliding into and out of the opening 3, and a cross piece 6 extends below the drawer defining the lower edge of opening 3, While a cross piece 1 defines the upper edge of said opening, the latter being relatively narrow and in engagement with the said top I.

so that a standard desk drawer may be substi- One or more standard sized drawers 8 may be slidable into the pedestal below drawer 4, but this is optional and is not material to the present invention, other than clearly showing that the present invention does not preclude the use of standard sized drawers immediately therebelow.

The dimensions of drawer 4 are that of a standard filing drawer, and while the drawer may be made longer, if desired, the drawer indicated in the drawing is only about twenty-three inches in length, hence is adapted to be used in a small desk. When the drawer is extendedto the position shown in Figs. 1, 2, a third of the length of the drwaer will remain in the pedestal, giving a strong support for the weight of the typewriter. The table will stay solid on the floor and will successfully resist any tendency to move or to tilt when the typewriter is being used.

The drawer shown in the drawings is only slightly less than fourteen inches wide, and its vertical depth is ten and one-half inches. The typewriter indicated is "representative of any standard make portable typewriter.

While the present invention is'not intended to be restricted as to proportions and size, it is pertinent'to note that by the present structure and i arrangement, the typewriter is adapted to be supported in elevated working position at working height and is adapted to be'moved to' said position without in any way interfering with the top I and'while at least a'third of the twenty-three inch-drawer remains within the pedestal.

The drawer 4 has a rectangular front end wall 9 that is rigid therewith, and that is adapted to close the opening 3 when the drawer is closed,'or

is fully within said pedestal 2, except for said front end wall.

Parallel side walls I0, II" extend rearwardly from said wall 9, which walls I0, I I may be connected' at their rear ends by cross piece I2 that extends between said walls at their. upper rear corners (Figs. 3, 4).

A rear end wall I3 is in spaced opposed relation to the said front wall 9, said wall I3 being positioned about two-thirds of the distance from the front end wall to the cross piece I2 in direction away from front end wall. This wall I3 is secured to side walls I0, I I.

Between the front and rear end walls 9, I3, the

' side wall II is cut away from its upper edge to provide a side opening into the drawer having 7 vertical side edges I4, I5 respectively adjacent the frontand end walls 9, I3 (Fig.4). These edges I4, I5 terminate at the same distance at points spaced substantially above the lower edge of the wall II, and from saidpoints the wall II is cut inwardly a short distance to provide upwardly facing shoulder surfaces I6 and "then downwardly to define opposed spaced edges I'I that terminate at their lower ends at the opposite ends of a horizontal edge I8 that'defines the lowermost edge of the side opening in wall I I.

The side edges I4, I5 of the side opening into drawer 4 through side wall II are slightly spaced from the-opposed surfaces of the front and rear end walls in direction toward each other thereby providing narrow surfaces (Fig.' 3) that are ."from'the edge 23 that is' adjacent'the side wall I I to points 24 that defin shoulder surfaces facing toward the said wall II. The edges 25 extending from edge 23 of platform 2I to said shoulders 24, are spaced apart just enough to allow the portion of the platform extending away from edge 23 to a line between shoulders 24 to closely pass between edges I4, I5 of side wall II.

By the above structure the platform 2| is adapted to move laterally through the side opening in wall I I at any point in said opening above the shoulders-I6 until the shoulder surfaces 24 on the'platformengage the surfaces 20 on wall II along the edges I4, I5. When the said shoulder surfaces 24 abut said surfaces 20, the limit of outward movement of the platform 2| is reached.

When the platform 2I is in its lowermost position within drawer 4, the portion thereof along edge 23 is supported at its ends on the upwardly directed shoulders I6 of wall II, and the underside of the platform along edge 28 that is opposite edge'23 will rest on a horizontal strip 29 (Fig. 5) that is secured to the side wall I0. Parallel 'side strips 30'extend' between walls I0, II from the ends of the strip 29.

A horizontal bottom wall 3I (Figs. 4, 5) extends between walls I0, II below strips 30" and below strip 29 over the edgeI8 of wall In on which the marginal portion of said wall 3| along said edge I8 is supported. A shelf 32 maybe spaced above the bottom wall 3I and below the level of the shoulders I6. Paper supplies for the typewriter may be carried on said bottom wall and on said shelf, and when the platform 2I is in its lowermost position it will form a top cover above shelf 32.

The said shelf 2 I is supported within said drawer 4 for vertical and lateral movement through the side opening in wall I I by means of a pair of substantially identical U-shaped elements 33,-"34,

that are preferably formed from round rods.

'The closed ends 35, 36 of these elements are parallel and straight and extend across the lower side of the platform 2I in direction 'parallel'with edges 23, 28 of the said platform. One ofthe legs 31 of element- 33 and one of the legs 38 of element'34 are respectively pivoted in the end wall I3 at the same level slightly below the level 'of shelf 32 (Fig.4), the terminating ends39 of said legs extending horimntally and into bushings 40 secured in wall I3.

'The opposite legs of the elements I3'f0rmed with outwardly bent end portions that are identical' with" portions 39 and they pivotally extend with bushings secured in wall 9 that are identical with the bushings 40 in wall I3.

The straight closed ends 35, 36 are respectively parallel cleats 4|, 42 secured to the underside of platform 2I. These cleats M, 42 not only function as bearings for the straight ends 35, 36 of elements 33, 34, but they function to prevent warp- .age of the said platform.

The 'elem'ents33j34' are arranged so that'the shoulders 24 on platform 2| will be against the surfaces 20 along edges I4, I5 andthe upper surface of said'platform will be'flush with the upper the opposite end' of said sp'ring'may be secured to the side wall ll adjacent one of the edges IT.

This spring is adjacent the rear end wall 13 and when the typewriter is on the platform 2| and is in its lowermost position, the Weight of the typewriter will hold the platform down, but when the platform is swung upwardly to its maximum elevated position,'said spring will yieldably hold the platform in its fully elevated position and will hold'shoulders 24 against the surfaces 20 of wall ll against accidental lowering of the platform. However, as the platform moves. rearwardly and downwardly the weight of thetypewriter will result in a gentle downward movement thereof.

Should there be no typewriter on the platform,

the latter may be held down by a rotary button 46 secured on platform 2| adjacent edge 28, which button may be rotated into a recess 41 in wall In (Figs. 3 to 5).

of is an elongated rotary stop member 48 that is pivotally secured centrally thereof to the said wall I3 on the side of the latter that faces away from the front end wall 9. When this stop member is rotated to a vertically extending position its upper end will project slightly above the upper edge of wall l3. An opening 49 in wall l3 enables an operator to rotate the memberfrom the side of wall l3 adjacent the typewriter.

. Whenmember 48 is vertical, and the drawer is in the pedestal, the upwardly projecting end of said member is adapted to engage the upper cross piece 1 that is above the drawer so that ,the

drawer cannot be pulled out. This stop member can be rotated by the .fingers, however, to enable the operator to move the member to a position in which it will clear the cross piece I, and then the drawer can-be withdrawn.

In operation, when the platform 2| is at its lowermost position within the drawer it is rigidly supported by the drawer and the latter can be readily closed, whereby the front end wall 9 will close the opening through which the drawer is slidable.

Upon sliding the drawer to open position (Fig.

' 1) the said drawer will be stopped in its outward movement by the stop member 48 engaging strip 1. The operator may then exert a slight manual lifting force on the typewriter and the platform, with the typewriter on it, will move to its elevated 7 position in which practically half of the platform will project through the side opening in side wall H to a position above the knees of the operator,

when the operator turns to face the drawer.

against thesurfac'eslifl. of wall I! andit requires; alateralpush on the platform or typewriterin the direction of wall ID to cause theplatformto swing to loweredposition. -The arms 31, 38 holdv the platform rigidly in elevated position until such lateral force is applied to the -pl atformor to the typewriter.

It ispertinent tonote that the typewriter will e at he enera- 1y appro d heig t-0 y ing On end wall I 3 and near the upper edge there- .6 when in elevated position. This height" may be varied to suit any particular requirement by changing the length of arms 31, 38. I

While the present invention may be applied to any height desk or table, one of its advantages is that at one and the same time it isiadapted to elevate the typewriter to the approved height for typing and to provide for adequate knee space below the same in a desk of standard height.

The fact that the drawer cannot possibly be accidentally pushed into the pedestal or beneath the top of the desk or table carrying the same. when the typewriter is in elevated position (Fig. 2) is very important, and of particular importance isthe fact that no separate locking means is required in the present instance. In .the present instance the platform is the means that prevents such accidental movement. In the past, separate locking means, such as extensions on typewriter elevating arms, latches etc. have been relied upon, but in most of these cases a strong push on the drawer or platform will be sufficient tobreak or to disengage the locking meanstoia suf cient degree to result indamage to the typewriter. Y

The platform in the present instance is-arranged so that it issubstantially inengagement with the desk when in elevated position, .thus

being locked assoon as it is elevated, which .is highly desirable inasmuch-as the typewriter is preferably not secured'to the platform.

We claim: 1. In a desk having a top and a pedestal below one end thereof provided with a drawer opening adjacent said top, a horizontally elongated drawer slidable longitudinally thereof through. .said opening from an. extended position'projecting from said pedestal to a closedposition: within said pedestal, a horizontal support .for a typewritercarried by said drawer'and means mounting said support on said drawer for vertical movement of said support when said drawer'is in said extended position from a lowered position of said support spaced below the level of said top a distance greater than that of'the height of a typewriter adapted to be supported'thereon. to an elevated position partially offset laterally relative to the length of said drawer and relative to the support when in said lowered position and I almost at the level' of said top with the carriage of such typewriter above the u per surface of said top, said support being aplatform and one edge of said platform being positioned to en- "gage said drawer at a point above said opening when said platform is in said elevated position.

2. In a desk having a top and a pedestal-below one end thereof provided with a drawer open ng adjacent said top, a horizontally elongated drawer slidable longitudinally thereofthrough said opening from an extended position projecting from said pedestal'to a closed position within said pedestal, a horizontal support for a typewriter carried byisaid drawer and means mounting said support. on said drawer for-vertical movement of said support when said-drawer is in said extended position from a lowered position of said support spaced below-the level of said top a distance greater than that of the height of a typewriter adapted to be supported thereon toan elevated position partially offset-lateral y relativeto the length of said drawer and relative to the support when in said lowered position and almost at the .level of said ,top with the carriage of such typewriter above the upper surface of said top: said 76 suppqrt being aplatform; one edge of said; plat- .17 fonnibeing'positioned to engage said; drawer: at -.a: pointgbetween =the=said opening-andrsaid -top when said platform: is in; saidielevated position, cand stop. means carried by said. drawer directly engageable with said;platfor.m when the latter is 5-.

.movedzto said elevated position to hold said plat- "form- ,againstzcontinued movement pastsaid eleryated position when said platform is moved from said .loweredposition. to "said elevated position.

3.. A' horizontally elongated drawer for atypewriter: including a vertical front: end wall and horizontallyv extending. spacedparallel side members extending therefrom. for slidably supporting -said'drawerin a'desk for movementlongitudinally of asaid drawer, a: horizontal platform for supporting a typewriterthereon, a pair of generally -U-L-shaped elements :arrangedxwith 5' their closed ,ends and legs substantially parallel, means piviota'lly-securingsaidclosed-xends to said platform and means pivotally securing. the said free ends: .to. said drawer for swingingly mounting said platform on said drawer for movement from a lowered= position within said drawer with said: legs extending. generallyhorizontally toani'elevated position with said legs extending generally ver-t; --tically and said closed ends uppermost, the said -iclose'dend'of each of saidelements being straight .and horizontal and extending substantially 'fully aoross'the underside of said platform,'the said elements being arranged with the axes of their piv-' otal connections with said platform and said drawer extending longitudinally of saiddrawer whereby said platformwill move generally laterally" of the-length of said'drawer during upward swinging of said platform.

"'4. A horizontally elongated drawer for a type- .writer-including a verticalifront: end wall and horizontally extending spaced parallel side mem- -bers extending therefrom for slidably supporting saiddrawer in a'desk for movement longitudinally *of-saiddrawer, a-horizontal platform'for supporting a-typewriter thereon, a pair of generally :JU-shaped elements arranged with their closed endsand legs substantiallyparallel,-means piv- "otally securing'said closedends to said platform and meanspivotally securing the said free ends --to1said drawer for swingingly mounting said platform on said 'drawer' for movement from* a lowered pOSltlOIlrWithil'l said drawer with said-legs extending generally horizontally to an elevated *:position i with said legs extending generally verti- -cally and" said closedends uppermost, the-said closed end of each of said elements being straight and horizontal and extending substantially fully across the underside of said platform thesaid 'elements'being arranged with the:axes of their rpivotal connections with said-platform and said drawer: extending longitudinally ',0f1 saiddrawer whereby-said platform will move generally "later- :ally of the 'lengthof said-drawer duringupward -swinging of said platform, means slidably enrgaging two oppposite edges of said platform dur- :..ing its movement between said elevated and said i lowered positions for holding said platform from -rotation about its-verticalaxis, said last men- 'tlonedi meansincluding psaid front'wall.

" 5.* =A horizontally elongated drawer for a typewriter including a vertical front end" wall: and horizontally extending spaced parallel side members extending therefrom for slidably supporting said drawer in adesk for movement longitudi- "n'ally of said drawer, a horizontal platform for "supporting a typewriter thereon; a pair of genorally U-shaped "elementsarranged with 1 their. olosed-'ends and-*leg'ssubstantially parallel means" cally and .said ,closed ends uppermost, the; said closedendof each of: said elements being straight .and horizontal and extending substantially fully across the'underside of said platform, the means pivotally securing said 'closed ends to said-platform comprising-parallel anti-warp cleats extending across the .underside, of. said platform -over -across the underside of saidplatform, the said elements being arranged with-the axes of their pi votal connections with said platform and' said each of said ends, said cleats being; formed with ,a channel foreach of said: closed ends.

6 A'horizontally. elongated drawer fora type- .writer including a.vertical front end wall. and

horizontally extending spaced parallel side members extending therefrom for slidably supporting said drawer in. a desk for'movement longitudinally of said drawen. a horizontal platform for supporting a typewriter thereon, a pair of generally" U-shaped elements 1, arranged with their closed ends and legs substantially parallehmeans pivotally securing said closed ends; to said plattformand means pivotallysecuring the said free ends to said drawer for-swinginglymounting said -cally'andsaid closed'ends'uppermost, .the said closed end ofeach of said elements being straight andhorizontal and extending substantially fully drawer extending longitudinally of said drawer whereby said platformwill move generally laterallyof the length of said-drawer during upward swinging-of said platform, a cross piece parallel with said front end wall-and extending between said side members, said platform being disposed between said cross piece and said front end wall with two opposite edges of said platform in-close relationship to front-end wall and said cross piece, the free ends of said elements being respectively connected with said front wall end and with said cross piece.

"'7. A horizontally elongated drawer for a typewriter including a vertical front endwall and horizontally extending spaced parallel side members extending therefrom for slidably supporting said'drawer in adesk' for movement longitudinally of said drawer, a horizontal p1atform-for I, supporting atypewriter thereon, a pair, of genform andmeans pivotally securing thesaid free ends to said drawer for swingingly mounting said platform on said drawer formovement from a lowered position within said drawer withsaid legs extending generally horizontally to an elevated osi o wit sa dlees; exte d n e al y v r ica l1y; and Said closed ends uppermostgthe said closed end of ,each' of saidelernents being straight and .horizontal and extending substantially fully across theunderside of saidplatform; one of said side members being positioned to support said -platform--along one of jthe edgesofthe latter whensaid platform is in its lowered position.

-:'8;; A-" horizontally elongateddrawer for a typewriter including a. ve'rticial froiit end wall and form and means pivotally securing the said free ends to said drawer for swingingly mounting said platform on said drawer for movement from a lowered position within said drawer with said legs extending generally horizontally to an elevated position with said legs extending generally vertically and said closed ends uppermost, the said closed end of each of said elements being straight and horizontal and extending substantially fully across the underside of said platform, the said elements being arranged with the axes of their pivotal connections with said platformand said 0 drawer extending longitudinally of said drawer whereby said platform will move generally laterally of the length of said drawer during upward swinging of said platform, a pair of spaced stop members carried by one of said side members at points thereabove and at the level of said platform when the ltater is in its elevated position for engagement by said platform, said platform being formed with shoulders adapted to so engage said stop members.

CHESTER H. RISTENPART. JOSEPH F. DETMAYER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 558,388 Heyward Apr. 14, 1896 569,259 Walton Oct. 13, 1896 973,325 Waring Oct. 18, 1910 2,037,919 Poe Apr. 21, 1936 2,455,156 Balzi Nov. 30, 1948 

